My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Santa’s gift bag wreath

...ok not really that fancy- it’s made from paper pulp. A cardboard box gift bag wreath… really. In the spirit of 2020- I am inspired by the endless stream of cardboard boxes being delivered. Probably the one thing we all have in abundance right now!

Me, addressing my 2020 Christmas cards (all inspired by the lyrics of I’ll be home for Christmas … )

I'll be home for Christmas

We’ll be home for Christmas

He and she’ll be home for Christmas

Them? Them’ll be home for Christmas

And they? Uh huh… they’ll be home for Christmas

… us’ll? Christmas eve will find us’ll home for Christmas…

oooh a card for you... You’ll be home for Christmas!

which reminds me…

... would you like to find a Christmas card from me in your Santa’s gift bag?

I get to make and send you a Christmas card this year and we help out a few bookshops in the process!

Here’s the deal:

Bookshops will be having a tough time in the coming lockdown and I am so excited to be participating in #SigningforBookstores by sending out signed cards to anyone who buys (online orders count!) my book from a real-life shop.

Starting today, until Christmas day, if you buy a copy of THE EFFORTLESS FLORAL CRAFTSMAN from a local or indie bookstore and send me a really creative Selfie or Shelfie (featuring my book) that shows me a little something of your own Effortless Style I'll send you a handmade and signed Christmas card that you can use as a bookplate or bookmark.

Remember to include your mailing address and the name you want me to dedicate the card to.

You can make use of @bookshop_Org or @indiebound to find your local bookstore.

Every good Christmas wish!

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Tutorials
Contactless gift exchange wreath perfect to double as Santa’s Gift Bag for your front door
25 November 2020
Contactless gift exchange wreath perfect to double as Santa’s Gift Bag for your front door

Craft a small pouch into a half-and-half wreath so that you can leave... and receive tiny gifts and cards in true Christmas 2020 style .
Wire Stars
25 November 2020
Wire Stars

Wrap wire around a cardboard star for a quick three dimensional decoration.
Blow away hot glue strands
24 July 2012
Blow away hot glue strands

When you glue a structure with hot glue there are always a few stray strands of glue stuck all over the design. Blow it away with a hairdryer.
Wire curls
5 May 2011
Wire curls

curl wire to add to designs
Drinking straw "test tubes"
4 January 2011
Drinking straw "test tubes"

When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.
Adding snow to twigs
28 December 2016
Adding snow to twigs

Glue artificial snow to twigs
Stripping bark from willow sticks
8 June 2016
Stripping bark from willow sticks

Strip the green bark from the stems to expose the smooth wood
Bark Veneer Cardboard Cake stands
22 January 2013
Bark Veneer Cardboard Cake stands

A quick and easy way to make a cardboard cake stand
Bark Veneer Cardboard Floral Cake
22 January 2013
Bark Veneer Cardboard Floral Cake

Glue a stack of cardboard circles to create a log-like floral cake
Kyogi paper wood veneer
10 March 2012
Kyogi paper wood veneer

I wanted to create extremely light weight wooden blocks for my design. The easiest way is to cover Styrofoam with a Kyogi paper veneer.
Weave a heart shaped basket
4 September 2013
Weave a heart shaped basket

An easy to assemble open weave basket
Weaving a twig wreath
1 November 2011
Weaving a twig wreath

For my design I wanted the wreath to look wind blown so I added a few loosely woven twigs into the weave. I also wanted to emphasize the autumn colours so I added a twirling copper wire into the weave
A bark strip and fluffed cotton disk wreath
28 December 2016
A bark strip and fluffed cotton disk wreath

Cover a wreath frame with bark strips and fluffed out cotton
Hang a wreath on a door without knocking nails into the door face
7 December 2011
Hang a wreath on a door without knocking nails into the door face

I use two methods (or a combination of both) to attach a wreath to a door.
Here it is: the quickest, easiest Christmas wreath… ever!
18 December 2019
Here it is: the quickest, easiest Christmas wreath… ever!

My work is usually so labour intensive... this one came as a wonderful surprise... it really is both quick and easy to craft this wreath!
Syringe with tube
3 January 2011
Syringe with tube

Easy way to fill test tubes and easiest way to remove water from a vase
Twist your own Wire Wreath frame
12 August 2012
Twist your own Wire Wreath frame

Make a wire wreath frame with wire and cover it with growth mesium or moss to design on
A slow reveal Birch Bark Scroll Nice List
4 December 2024
A slow reveal Birch Bark Scroll Nice List

Soak and roll a sheet of birch bark into a scroll for a woodland inspired Santa's Nice list
Spaced birch bark strip basket
13 March 2024
Spaced birch bark strip basket

Sturdy and easy to make... a small harvest basket ready for all the Spring flowers still to come.
A birch bark spiral wrap to cradle floral details in a wine glass
17 January 2024
A birch bark spiral wrap to cradle floral details in a wine glass

Spiral birch bark strips into two mirror images to create a wintery wrap for a bud vase.
Twig Christmas Star
8 December 2021
Twig Christmas Star

Make your own twig Christmas stars- the easy way.
Green Patina Copper Bells
8 December 2021
Green Patina Copper Bells

Easiest bell DIY. Add a bit more character by chemically treating the bell to have a lovely green patina.
Green Patina Copper Bells
8 December 2021
Green Patina Copper Bells

Easiest bell DIY. Add a bit more character by chemically treating the bell to have a lovely green patina.
Happy twig glow-man proudly showing off it's copper star garland
1 December 2021
Happy twig glow-man proudly showing off it's copper star garland

Craft a twig and foam snowman with an inner glow.
Hellebores, Foxtail and copper star garland for a happy glow-man
1 December 2021
Hellebores, Foxtail and copper star garland for a happy glow-man

This is the second part of my twig glow-man Tutorial... and probably the easiest garland you can possibly make.
A quick and easy way to Craft a Twig Basket Using Wire Tendrils
6 October 2021
A quick and easy way to Craft a Twig Basket Using Wire Tendrils

The hardest part of this is actually making the tendrils. From there it's a few twists... and we are done!
Ice skating pond inspired grid for a winter floral design
2 December 2020
Ice skating pond inspired grid for a winter floral design

Turn the tried and trusted tape over the vase grid idea sticky side out... and adding artificial snow for a Christmas in Winter design solution.
Lost and found snow mittens
2 December 2020
Lost and found snow mittens

Artificial snow covered cardboard mittens to add to a winter themed design.
Related Designs
It's High Time for Tea: from craft to art, taking a delicious floral journey with veneer techniques
22 January 2013
It's High Time for Tea: from craft to art, taking a delicious floral journey with veneer techniques

This was my second two designs for my It's High Time for Tea Floral Craft and Art Demonstration at The Capilano Flower Arranging Club meeting.
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Yule log
18 November 2020
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Yule log

...ok not really that fancy- it’s made from paper pulp. A cardboard box Yule log… really. In the spirit of 2020- I am inspired by the endless stream of cardboard boxes being delivered.
Large Open Weave Twig Basket
8 April 2011
Large Open Weave Twig Basket

Easter Basket used in the Durbanville Flower Club Easter Parade Demonstration
A Jingle Cotton Christmas
28 December 2016
A Jingle Cotton Christmas

Cover a wreath frame with bark and cotton for a textured Christmas wreath design
A Happy, Merry, Jolly (easy as that!) Eucalyptus Christmas wreath
18 December 2019
A Happy, Merry, Jolly (easy as that!) Eucalyptus Christmas wreath

Now this is quite a discovery! And it honestly is the easiest and quickest way to go from "I still want to decorate for Christmas" to "... aaand I am done, I made our wreath"
So white
25 November 2015
So white

A dried Baby's breath and fresh orchid wreath
A Candy(cane) Cotton Christmas
14 December 2016
A Candy(cane) Cotton Christmas

A floral cotton candy cane
It's a swell time…
12 December 2012
It's a swell time…

An exceptional moment frozen in time… 12:12:12 12/12/12
A Very Merry… all elf pass into Santa’s workshop, department for checking it twice
4 December 2024
A Very Merry… all elf pass into Santa’s workshop, department for checking it twice

A frozen in a moment bark scroll with silver leaf letters that was about to reveal Santa's Nice list!
In All Ways
13 March 2024
In All Ways

A birch bark basket... perfect for some new Spring floral details.
Wave Wrap
17 January 2024
Wave Wrap

Roll birch bark into a double spiral to cradle some perfect flowers to admire all winter.
It’s the most… it’s the most... Jingle Patina Christmas of all!
8 December 2021
It’s the most… it’s the most... Jingle Patina Christmas of all!

This is the third of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. Craft the easiest copper bells to hang in a Christmas star wreath.
It’s the most… it’s the most... Hap-Hapiest Patina Christmas of all!
1 December 2021
It’s the most… it’s the most... Hap-Hapiest Patina Christmas of all!

This is the second of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. Craft a three twig sphere snow man to proudly display a festive green garland.
A good measure of Autumn
6 October 2021
A good measure of Autumn

A wire and twig permanent display basket with tiny water sources for a few fresh flowers that can be replaced as needed.
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Lost and Found Snow Mittens
2 December 2020
Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Lost and Found Snow Mittens

...ok not really that fancy- it’s made from paper pulp. A cardboard box snow mittens… really. In the spirit of 2020- I am inspired by the endless stream of cardboard boxes being delivered.
Favourite Flowers
Phalaenopsis
Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis orchid detail from my Harnessing the Wind design